TUCSON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Ariz. (AFNS) — (Editor’s note: For security reasons, the Iraqi air force pilot is not fully identified) For more than 65 years the Air Force has embraced the concept of flexibility being the key to airpower. Now Airmen from the Arizona Air National Guard are sharing that capacity to find creative ways…

HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. — People often think of diversity in the workplace as being defined as the hiring of different races and cultures. The Air Force envisions diversity to be more in-depth. According to the Air Force Instruction 36-7001, the Air Force broadly defines diversity as a composite of individual characteristics, experiences and abilities consistent…

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFNS) — Due to popularity and past holiday sales, the amount of unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, have soared. The Federal Aviation Administration estimated more than one million UAVs were sold during the year-end holiday season. With that many new drones added to existing numbers, federal, state and local officials are concerned…

Application packages for the next Undergraduate Flying Training selection board are due to the Rated Officer Assignments branch of the Air Force Personnel Center by Nov. 17, 2017. The board, set for Jan. 22-25, 2018, will consider active-duty officer applicants to attend training as early as spring 2018. Those interested in becoming a pilot, combat…

LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Arizona — The first two Norwegian F-35s arrived today at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. Shortly after, a Norwegian pilot flew the F-35 Lightning II for the first time today, in conjunction with the Royal Norwegian air force’s birthday. The F-35 program took its first step forward integrating partner nations with…

DALLAS – After four years of coordination with the Defense Departments, Army and Air Force as well as several other federal agencies, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service will welcome home approximately 15 million veterans on Nov. 11. “AAFES is honored to offer this well-deserved benefit to those who raised their right hands, took…

The Air Force is pursuing a range of options that will, in combination with a reset in the number of sustainable combat air patrols, help alleviate long-term stress on Remotely Piloted Aircraft crews. Initial efforts were announced by the Air Force Secretary and Chief of Staff earlier this year; new initiatives include incentive pay increases…

Female Airmen now have up to 12 months after having a baby to request separation from the service under the Air Force’s new Diversity and Inclusion initiative. This policy change, effective April 26, 2017, gives female Airmen more time to better understand and assess how they can balance a military career and family needs, ensuring…

The Army & Air Force Exchange Service ushered in a new era of healthy dining options as Freshens Fresh Food Studio made its debut at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Exchange food court, marking the restaurant’s first direct-operated location on an Army or Air Force installation. “We’re pleased to officially welcome Freshens to the…

Tech. Sgt. Brent Reynertson, 55th Electronic Combat Group evaluator and mission crew supervisor, prepares to drag another Airman through the water during a water survival training refresher course here Jan. 5. The drag simulates the moments an aircrew member experiences after landing in the water with a deployed parachute. Staff Sgt. Whitni Levering, 42nd Electronic…

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Published the first Friday of each month, Desert Lightning News is distributed to military and contractor personnel on Davis-Monthan AFB, including all on-base offices and high traffic locations throughout Tucson

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